Wetfoot and Arry, Vol 2. Days 2-3: 12.7 miles: Learning to Relax

Day 2.

We let the sun awake long before we got up. Sometime during the night it rained, and about 3am Arry decided she needed to share my sleeping bag.  It was a toasty bag for sure.

Looking back on the terrain we hiked yesterday. Whew! Our goal today was only seven miles, on much easier terrain. My quads were excited for the break.

We summited Little Bigelow and stopped for lunch shortly after. The funny thing about mountains is, you cant underestimate them no matter how many you’ve climbed…even if it has “little” in its name. It was a great view, and as I looked southward I could see Bigelow West Peak and Avery, we summited them yesterday.

We walked alongside a creek, paralleling the trail. Arry had to keep jumping over to get drinks. The water I give her from her water bowl is no longer satisfactory, she must have the fresh moving kind! While semi annoying, more annoying at other times, I’d rather her stay hydrated and happy. I know in the long run that is what is going to make or break our hike.

 

Camp came early today at Flagstaff lake. Well first we walked past it and found a great water source! The camp sign was much more visible when we turned around and headed south. We have a great view of the lake I hope to catch sunset at.

After a quick dip in the lake I fed the dog some kibbles. Arry is passed out in the tent. You know, away from the bugs. And now I will do trail things. Like contemplate or something.

Day 3.

I didnt contemplate. I took a nap with my alarm set to get up and watch the sunset. I woke up to the rain at 6pm, turned off the alarm and chalked it up to an early night.

It rained off and on all night. I woke up at 530am thinking it must be 7am for how bright it was. The rain was still pouring. It subdued sometime around 630am, when we got up. We were on the move by 830am and made it to the lean-to by 11am.

The whole time I thought about, and talked to the dog about, why I couldnt just be like my boyfriend. Take things as they come, with late starts and lazy mornings reading long books. This is why I need to hike the trail, because I cant just not be doing things, I always feel like I have to work my body until it is exhausted, have to always be on the move, always being productive. And that’s exhausting. But it’s also exhausting trying to teach yourself to relax when you’ve been wound so tight for years.

Could I walk ten more miles to the next lean to? Yes i could. Could the dog? Yes, she would make it. What am I going to do today that is going to be worth taking more time? I’m not sure…and I dont have any service so I cant even lean on my crutch of calling home.

At this lean-to there was a section hiker, Mr. Gopher, taking a zero. He’s transitioning between jobs so he’s doing what he can hike in the northeast until then. He also told me it had been awhile since he had had cell reception. I guess it will just be me and the doggo for a bit.

When we rolled up at 11am I could have laid my gear out to dry in the sun and continued on once it dried, or called it quits for the day. Im mentally struggling right now with not pushing on, so i’ll write in black and white why I’m staying, just as much for you to know as to calm my fear of being unproductive.

1. There is companionship here, while I’ll probably never see him again with the thought of no cell reception for a ways it will be nice to have someone to chat with if only for a little. 2. I know we could both physically complete the additional miles, but why put that added stress on our bodies early into the hike. 3. Most importantly, i’m not sure my resupply package would arrive in Caratunk by Friday. It should be there by Saturday for sure, but without cell recpetion to call, I wouldn’t know and be forced to take a zero day in town, which I would rather not.

And so I will begin the art of trying to force myself to relax with just being present.